Automatic impelling device



ot. 2s, 1930. D. s. KEISER 1,780,081

AUTOMATIC IMPELLING DEVICE Filed oct, 1e, 1929 F Patented Oct. 28, 1930 PATENT OFFICE DAVID S. KEISEB, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC IMPELLTNG DEVICE Application led October 16, 1929. Serial No. 400,028.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic impelling devices and, particu# larly, refers to impelling devices, the operation of which is based upon the electro-magnetic, principle.

One of the objects of the -invention i-s to construct an electro-magnetic impelling device which may be operated by alternating current, although it is within the scope of lo the invention to operate the device Wit-l1 direct current if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide impelling devices which may produce a reciprocating motion.

A further object is to construct an electro- .magnetic impelling device which may be applicable to systems of commercial transportation. A

A still further object is to construct an 23 electro-magnetic impelling device which is .characterized by its simplicity of construction, operation and requirement of fewer Working parts than devices of the prior art,

thereby lowering the cost, of manufacture and decreasing the number of probable causes of failure of operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

A clearer understanding of the invention and its operation may be had from the drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 3 are diagrammatic sectional 4views of the device, showing three stages of fits operation;l

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of 'the dedevice from which reciprocating motion is produced;

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of another such modification;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view partlysect-ioned showing one "of the applications of the device to an electric toy; and

Fig. Sis a partial diagrammatic sectional view of a modification of the device showing a resistor used in place of the condenser.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the numeral 1 designates aisource of alternating current which -is supplied to a solenoid 3 bymeans of .50 conductors 11 and 12. The coil .-3 maybe wound on any suitable non-conducting material 2, such as wood, hard rubber or a phenol condensation product or insulated metal. Inside the coil 3 is located a guiding tube 4 through which a soft iron body or otherA magnetizable material of high permeability 5 is adapted to pass. The body 5 ma take any shape or form, depending upon t e use to which the device is to be put, and the guide may be constructed accordingly. Beneath the tube 4 is a circuit-closing device comprising an arm 6 lWhich is ivot-ally mounted and normally assumes a alanced position parallel to the axis of the coil, this arm being adapted, in a predetermined position, to close a contact l0 at one end thereof. rlhe arm 6 is also made of soft iron or any suitable material which is easily magnetized.

As illustrated, the circuit-closing device is placed in series with the source land the coil 3 by means of the terminals 8 and 9. -A condenser 7, or other impedance, is placed in parallel with the circuit-closing device and is of such value as to offer a substantiall high impedance to alternating current owing through it when the contact 10 is broken. It is obvious that it direct current be used, a highA resistance may be substituted in the place of condenser 7 without departing from the scope of the invention or materiall affeet-ing the operation of the device; As ereinbefore stated, the body 5 may be of soft iron or any other suitable ma netizable material which is easily magnetize and may be in the form of a closed hollow tube or a solid body of any suitable shape. With the arm 6 in the normal position, the contact 10 is open anda relatively small current passes from the source l through the conductor 11, terminal 8, condenser 7, terminal 9 through the coil 3 and back to the source 1 by means of conductor 12. The normal position of the arm is parallel to the` axis of the coil.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the body 5 approaches the coil 3 from the left, it immediately becomes magnetized by the action of the current in coil 3, thereby giving instantaneous values of polarity, say, for example, south on the left end and north on the right end of the body indicated as s (i) .ma No) in the am-ving. The arm 6 will also be magnetized in like manner having instantaneous values of polarity similar Fig. 2, the south pole of the arm 6 is re' pelled by the south pole of the body and the north pole of the arm is repelled by the north pole o the body, thus opening the contact 10 and causing the current in the coil to diminish to a negligible value. The repelling action of body 5 and arm 6 tends to overcome th'e force of gravity acting on the body, thereb tending to lift the body off the bottom o the tube. Obviously, the body and arm may be so relatively designed that the repelling force exertedon the body by the arm will tend to overcome the force of gravity, and the body will thus be given a floating movement in its passage through the tube. This feature would be of great importance if the device were applied to a system of commercial transportation. For example, an iron rail or a pluralit of such rails could be located within the coll in a. position similar to that occupied by arm 6. These rails would, of cou-rse, be magnetized by the oilf to such an extent that they would lift the car off the road bed. Obviously, such a system of iioating a.I moving body throu h the coil would greatly reduce or even su stantially eliminate friction, and the speed of the body in passing through the coil would be greatly increased. Due to the inertia of the body, it will continue to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow and when it asses the central portion of the coil, the nort pole of the arm isattracted by the south pole of' the body and further separates the right end of the arm 6 from the contact 10. While the body is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the .current passing through condenser 7 and coil 8 is of'such small value as to have no appreciahle eiet upon the body 5 because of the relatively high speed at which the body is traveling through the coil. It will be noted that the circuit-closing means is operated purely by electro-magnetic action and the projected body .does not come in contact lwith :the arm 6. It is obvious that a. plurality' of separate coils similarly equipped may be placed end to end to" multiply the impulse 4given the body 5. By this multiplication of the impulsegiven to the body, the principle may readily be applied to systems of commarcial transportation as hereinbefore stated.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification in which the body 5 is given a reciprocating motion. This is accomplished by providing another contact 10. In this case when the body reaches the right hand portion of the coil,

thereby attracting the right end of the contact arm, the arm closes the contact 10 and the body is given a motion in the reverse direction and as soon as it reaches the left end of the coil, it attracts the left endof the arm, breaking the contact 10' and making the contact 10 which causes the body to be moved to the right again. The reciprocating motion thusproduced may be used for operating pumps, Wind shield cleaners for automobiles or any other mechanism which require reciprocating motion for their operation.

Another modification for producing reciprocating motion in accordance with my invention is shown in Fig. 6 in which two coils 3 and 3 are connected in parallel with a source by means of conductors 11 and l2, each coil having a condenser 7 and 7 respectively in Series therewith and each condenser being shunted by a contact switch 10 and l0'. When the body 5 (not shown) is -in the right-hand end of coil 3', the right ends of the arm 6 is attracted thereby and closes the Contact 10 which short circuits the condenser 7 and permits a large current to traverse coil 3. As soon as this large current traverses coil 3,.the magnetic field of the coil 3 acts on the body 5 and causes it to move to the left end of the coil 3, thus breaking the contact 10A and closing contact 10 which, in turn, short circuits condenser 7 and permits a large current to traverse coil 3', thereby causing the body to return to the right end of the coil 3.

Fig. 7 illustrates an application of my device to an electric toy. In this figure, the body 5 of' soft iron is made in the form of or is carried by a miniature toy automobile which is adapted to travel along a suitable track 15. The track 15 in this instance is substituted for the guide tube 4, shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The coil 3 may be decorated to represent a miniature tunnel and placed in an inclined position.

As the toy automobile approaches the tunnel, I

it attracts the arm 6, thereby closing the circuit through the coil which then causes the automobile to be projected up the inclined track, and to pass out of the tunnel, then returning by the action of gravity t'o the entrance'of the tunnel by virtue of the downward grade of the track 15. It will be seen thatthe automobile will continue its travel around the track andthrough the tunnel as long as current is supplied to the coil 3 by means of the terminals 13 and 14.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of my deviceusing a resistor 7 which may take the form of a coil of many turns 3f ne insulated wire having high resistance.' vThe use of such a resistance not only limits the current flow through the main coil when the shortcircuiting switch is open, but also produces a strong magnetizing eld because of the many turns of the resistance. This magnetizing Iield aids -the main coil in attracting the body during the time that the short-circuiting switch is open. Due to this aiding action of the resistance coil, a saving of turns of Wire in the main coil would bepossible in many instances. This would, of course, mean a saving in the cost of the main coil.

While I have shown but one modification and application of the device, other modifications and applications involving no departure from'the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I, therefore, de-

.sire to be limited only to the scope of the apgization of said coil when said circuit-closing means is open, and a normally unmagnetized -body of magnetizable material adapted to pass through said coil, said circuit-closing means being actuated by said body when the latter enters the coil to produce a magneti attraction of said body by said coil. 3. An automatic impelling device comprising a coil, means for energizing said coil, a body of magnetizable material adapted to pass through the coil by magnetic attraction of said coil, and circuit-closing means adapted to be magnetized and normally in open position, means for causing limited energization of said coil when said circuit-closing means is in open position, said body causing said circuit-closing means to close by magnetic attraction.

4. An automatic impelling device comprising acoil, means for energizing said coil, a plurality of contacts lin series with said coil, impedance means in shunt with said contacts for limiting the energization of said coil when the contacts are open, and a magnetizable body adapted to pass through said coil whereby said contacts are alternately closed and opened.

5. An automatic impelling device comprising a coil, a source of current for energizing I said coil, a normallyunmagnetized body of magnetic material adapted to be magnetized by ysaid coil and to lpass through it, circuitclosing means in series with said coil and adapted to be magnetized in the same sense as said body, and impedance means in shunt with said circuit-closing means for limiting the current through said coil when the contacts of said circuit-closing) means are open, said circuit-closino` means eing actuated by the passage of therbody through said coil.

6. An automatic impelling device comprising a coil, a source of current for energizing said coil, a normally unmagnetized body of magnetic material adapted to be magnetized by said coil and to pass through it, circuitopening means adapted to be magnetized in the same sense as said body, and impedance means in shunt with said circuit-opening means adapted to be short circuited when the contacts 'of said circuit-opening means are closed whereby an increased current is caused to flow through said coil, said circuit-opening meansbeing actuated by the passage of the body through said coil. 1

7. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil, 'a source of current for energizing said coil, circuit-closing means within said `coil and in series therewith, a body of magnetizable material adapted to pass through said coil by the magnetic attraction of the coil, means for guiding said body through' said coil, and impedance means connected in parallel with said circuit-closing means to limit the current passing through the coil when the circ-uit-closin means is open, said circuit-closing means 1eing actuated by electro-magnetic action of the body in its passage through the coil.

-8. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil, a source of alternating current for energizing said coil, circuit-closing and opening means located within said coil and in series therewith adapted to be temporarily magnetized by said coil, a body of magnetizable material adapted to pass through said coil by the electro-magnetic attraction thereof, means for guiding the body in its path through said coil, and a condenser connected in parallel with said circuit-closing means to limit the current passing through the coil whenv the circuit-closing means is open, said circuit-closing means being closed by said body when it is in one position in said coil and opened when in another position in said coil.

9. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil, a source of current for energizing said coil, circuit-closing means located within said coil and in series therewith, a body of magnetizable material adapted to pass through the coil by the electro-magnetic -attraction thereof, means for guiding the body through said coil, and impedance means connected in parallel with said circuit-closing means to limit the current passing through the coil when the circuit-closing means is open, said circuit-closing means being closed by the body when'it is in one position in said coil and opened when the body is in another position in said coil.

10. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil adapted to be energized by an electric current, circuitclosing means within said coil and in series therewith, a normally unmagnetized body of magnetizable material adapted to be actuated by said coil,

vmeans for guiding the body in its motion in series therewith, means for causing limited energization of said coil with said circuitclosing means open, a miniature vehicle adapted to pass through said coil whereby said circuit-closing means is actuated to produce a magnetic attraction of said vehicle by said coil, and-means for guiding said vehicle in its path through said coil.

12. An electrical impelling device comprising a track, supports for said track, a coil through which a portion of said track passes, said coil adapted to be energized by an electric current, circuitclosing means located within said coil and in series therewith, and a vehicle adapted to pass through said coil along said track by a magnetic reaction of said coil, whereby said circuit-closing means is actuated to produce the magnetic reaction of said coil on said vehicle.

13. An electric toy comprising an endless track, supports for said track, said track having portions thereof at various levels, a coil through which another portion of said track passes, said coil adapted to be-energized by an electric current, circuit-closing'and opening means located within said coil and in series therewith, and a miniature vehicle adapted to pass through said coil along said track by the magnetic attraction of said coil, whereby said circuit-closing means is actuated to produce the magnetic attraction of said coil on said vehicle, "said track serving as a guiding means for returning the vehicle to its starting point at the entrance of said coil.

14. An electromagnetic impelling device comprising a plurality of coils, means for energizing said coils, means for normally lim-` iting the energization of said coils, a magnetizable body adapted to pass through said coils in opposite directions by magnetic attraction of said coils, and means actuated'by said b ody for alternately rendering the limiting means of said coils ineffective whereby la), rieciprocating motion is imparted to said 15. An electromagnetic impelling device comprising a plurality of coils, means for energizing said coils, impedance means for normally limiting the energization of said coils, a magnetizable body .ada ted to pass through said coils in opposite irections by magneticl attraction of said coils, and means actuated by said body or'alternately shortcircuiting said impedance means whereby a reciprocating motion is imparted to said body.

16. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil, a source of current for energizing said coil, circuit-closing and opening means located withinv said coil and in series therewith adapted to be temporarily magnetized by said coil, a body of magnetizable material adapted to pass throughsaid coil by the electro-magnetic attraction thereof, means for guiding the body in its path through said coil, and a resistor connected in parallel with said circuit-closing means to limit the current passing through the coil when the circuit-closing means is open, said circuit-'closing means being closed by said body when it is in one position in said coil and opened when in another position in said coil.

17. An electro-magnetic impelling device comprising a coil,4 a source of current for energizing said coil, circuit-closing and opening means located within said coil and in series therewith Vadapted to be temporarily magnetzed by said coil, a body-of magnetizable material adapted to pass through said coil by the electro-magnetic attraction thereof, means for guiding the body in its path through said coil, and current-limiting and magnetizing means connected in parallel with the circuit-closing meanslto limit the current passing through the coil and produce a magnetizing field to assist that of the coil when the circuit-closing means is open, said circuit-closing means belng closed by sald body when 1t 1s 1n one position 1n said coil and opened when in another position in said coil.

18. An automatic impelling device com- 'lprising a coil, means for energlzing said coil, a body of magnetizable material adaptedto pass through the coil by magnetic attraction 4ofsaid coil, and magnetic means within said obtained.

DAVID S. KEISER. 

